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Fiery frills: carotenoid-based coloration predicts contest success in frillneck lizards

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  • David G. Hamilton
  • Martin J. Whiting
  • Sarah R. Pryke

Abstract

Conspicuous color signals are commonly used by a wide diversity of animals to advertise some specific aspect of their competitive ability. In particular, orange and red colors are often used as an aggressive signal to potential rivals. The iconic Australian frillneck lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) has a large and extensible frill that varies geographically in the extent of yellow, orange, and red present. Focusing on the red-orange lizards found in Western Australia, we first established that, in contrast to most lizards studied to date, the red-orange–colored frill is carotenoid rather than pterin based. Second, we measured chromatic and achromatic aspects of male frills before staging dyadic contests between males to determine whether color is used to signal fighting ability. Both chromatic and achromatic measures of the red-orange patches on the lizard’s frills, as well as similarly colored patches on their throats, were reliable predictors of competitive ability; males possessing more colorful displays dominated size-matched competitors in dyadic contests. Apart from large differences in body size and mass (>10%), no other colorimetrics (e.g., white patches), frill traits (e.g., size, relative and absolute patch sizes), or morphological measures (e.g., head size, bite force) were found to predict the outcome of contests. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of carotenoid-based patches signaling male fighting ability in a lizard.

Suggested Citation

  • David G. Hamilton & Martin J. Whiting & Sarah R. Pryke, 2013. "Fiery frills: carotenoid-based coloration predicts contest success in frillneck lizards," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 24(5), pages 1138-1149.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:24:y:2013:i:5:p:1138-1149.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/art041
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael S. Webster & Claire W. Varian & Jordan Karubian, 2008. "Plumage color and reproduction in the red-backed fairy-wren: Why be a dull breeder?," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 19(3), pages 517-524.
    2. Rita Chan & Devi Stuart-Fox & Tim S. Jessop, 2009. "Why are females ornamented? A test of the courtship stimulation and courtship rejection hypotheses," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 20(6), pages 1334-1342.
    3. Sarah R. Pryke & Staffan Andersson & Michael J. Lawes & Steven E. Piper, 2002. "Carotenoid status signaling in captive and wild red-collared widowbirds: independent effects of badge size and color," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 13(5), pages 622-631, September.
    4. Firth, David, 2005. "Bradley-Terry Models in R," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 12(i01).
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    1. Yong Zhi Foo & Gillian Rhodes & Leigh W. Simmons, 2017. "The carotenoid beta-carotene enhances facial color, attractiveness and perceived health, but not actual health, in humans," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 28(2), pages 570-578.
    2. Laura R. Crothers & Molly E. Cummings, 2015. "A multifunctional warning signal behaves as an agonistic status signal in a poison frog," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 26(2), pages 560-568.
    3. Anya Theis & Tania Bosia & Tobias Roth & Walter Salzburger & Bernd Egger, 2015. "Egg-spot pattern and body size asymmetries influence male aggression in haplochromine cichlid fishes," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 26(6), pages 1512-1519.

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